Through its’ three initiatives, The San Diego Foundation’s Environment Program is able to help and grant many amazing organizations for their efforts in environmental activism. We are extremely excited about the follow grant awards in efforts to ensure that all future generations enjoy clean air, safe water, diverse wildlife and access to green spaces along with natural areas throughout San Diego County.
Land and Watershed Conservation
The Back Country Land Trust is receiving $35,000 to conduct a removal demonstration of the invasive Arundo plant in north Alpine’s creeks and streams leading into the El Capitan Reservoir in order to begin stewardship and increase public awareness in watershed protection with the help of public agencies, nonprofits and up to 50 new volunteers.
The Chaparral Lands Conservancy is being granted $39,000 in order to restore and enhance six acres of imperiled vernal pools and dependent endangered species in southern San Diego County’s Proctor Valley. The grant will help towards obtaining project permits from property owners and wildlife agencies along with completing required environmental review documents and fundraising to balance the three-year project.
The Conservation Fund is being awarded $40,000 to complete 400-920 acres of pending land acquisitions of the Perkins, Cielo del Norte and Sky Oaks West/Adams properties in Carlsbad, as well as along Escondido Creek and the San Luis Rey River. With this grant the community can expect to see more critical habitat providences for native species, corridors for wildlife movement, and passive recreation resources. An increased connectivity of 100,000 acres of public lands is expected from Beauty Mountain north of Warner Springs, east and southward through Anza Borrego State Park and Cleveland National Forest.
The Endangered Habitats League will receive $50,000 to complete pending acquisitions in coastal San Diego County as well as along the San Diego River to provide critical habitats for native species and corridors for wildlife movement. 97 acres of sensitive north coastal wildlife habitat will be purchased and conserved while $6,000,000 of new public and private funding is expected to be secured for land acquisition and management.
Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy will be granted $40,000 for the purpose of assisting in the restoration of approximately 112.6 acres in Santee. They will also be able to determine through hydrological and biological studies if the flood threat has been lowered and to what extent which nesting sites have grown for the least Bell’s vireo, willow flycatcher, California gnatcatcher and cactus wren.
The Nature Conservancy will be awarded $42,408 to take high-priority actions in order to conserve the rare Tecate cypress forest on Otay Mountain, add an off-site “nursery” stand of Tecate cypress to serve as a seed source in the event of future Tecate cypress losses and secure funding for additional studies and plans.
River Partners will be receiving $15,000 to help convert 120-191 acres of abandoned, weedy land into a high quality habitat and recreational park space in the underserved region in Chula Vista. This project will help restore riparian habitat within the Otay River watershed and secure $1.3 million for the Otay River initiative.
The San Diego Audubon Society is being granted $20,300 to help with their efforts of improving at least 10 community stewardship events and achieving access to conserved lands in the Otay-Sweetwater region. This grant will also help to develop and implement an after-school learning program called, OutdoorExplore! as well as the Nearby Nature School Field Trip program that serves local students.
San Diego Canyonlands, Inc. is being awarded $42,408 in order to dedicate 10,000 acres of San Diego’s open space to the creation of an urban canyon lands park by June 2012 in addition to completing a Canyon Enhancement Planning (CEP) Guide as well as secure funding for a CEP Master Permit.
The San Diego River Park Foundation is receiving $40,000 in order to develop and increase access to 30 acres of new green space in the park-deficient community of Mission Valley as well as elevating stewardship and understanding of natural resources and recreational opportunities along the San Diego River. We anticipate an additional 175 new volunteers that will be help with a couple enhancement projects and a completion of the Lessons Learned and Pathways Forward report.
Clean Environments, Healthy Communities
The CALPIRG Education Fund, Inc. will be granted $10,000 in order to train and engage young college campus activists on policies that will result in cleaner air, an increase in open space and a decrease in global warming pollution. The grant will also help to recruit and train interns and volunteers to educate other San Diegans on environmental issues such as energy efficiency.
The Environmental Health Coalition will be awarded $40,000 in order to train at least 100 community members into being engaged in community planning efforts in Barrio Logan, National City and the City of San Diego in addition to regional planning with the Sustainable Communities Strategy and Regional Transportation Plan. This will also support the Green Zones Initiative by increasing community-based monitoring of toxic polluters and health threats caused by the environment.
The International Community Foundation/Olivewood Gardens will be receiving $50,000 to help promote changes in land use in order to expand green space accessibility along with the creation of more livable communities. An expected 15 new community members will also be trained through the Resident Leadership Academy. By increasing public understanding and support for the conversion proposal of the City’s golf course into parkland, Olivewood Gardens will be able to increase community advocacy in National City.
The International Rescue Committee is being granted $50,000 in order to provide low-income residents with workable urban agriculture training, education and outreach to make healthy, urban green spaces and healthy food system advocates. The community can expect to see two new acres of green space through the addition of school gardens at two high schools, two regional and city urban agriculture and food security plans, and the production of 6,000 lbs. of chemical-free soil from 240,000 lbs. of food waste.
Outdoor Outreach is being awarded $40,435 so that they will be able to provide 250 trips for 750 at-risk underserved youth and experience activities such as surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, rock climbing, backpacking, snorkeling and kayaking.
San Diego Coastkeeper is receiving $20,000 to promote clean water and better human and environmental health in San Diego Bay communities. In order to do so, they will be adopting the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s sediment cleanup plan that will produce outcomes such as removing 140,000 cubic yards of sediment.
Climate
American Lung Association of California is receiving $25,000 to help protect San Diego’s public health with climate solutions. Specifically, funding will support provision of public health analysis, education and advocacy to integrate public health concerns into the region’s climate change and smart growth policies, and catalyze ambitious local implementation of SB 375, California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act.
Breakthrough Communities is being granted $30,000 for their Sustainable Communities Regional Equity Campaign. This funding will help to build capacity for low income communities of color to advance public health and other community concerns in the SB 375 implementation process.
Equinox Center is receiving $22,500 for the Quality of Life Dashboard Indicators Initiative. This funding will support a partnership between the Equinox Center and The San Diego Foundation, to publish the Center’s 2011 Quality of Life Dashboard Indicators report.
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability received $97,000 for the San Diego Regional Climate Protection Network. Funding will enable ICLEI to undertake a multi-jurisdictional climate adaptation planning project addressing critical vulnerabilities and shoreline impacts from climate change in the San Diego Bay, as well as provide tools for and training of 7 climate fellows and city staff from 7 local governments to complete greenhouse gas emissions inventories.
Justice Overcoming Boundaries (JOB) is being awarded $25,000 towards a Sustainable Communities Regional Equity Campaign. Funding will enable JOB to perform outreach, training, and engagement with lower income San Diegans in order to build a base of grassroots leaders and constituents who can effectively advocate for regional and local plans and initiatives ensure the effective implementation of SB375.
Move San Diego is receiving $25,000 for the San Diego Regional Coalition for Transit Solutions. This support will help provide education and advocacy to build an effective coalition of opinion leaders seeking to transform the region’s transportation and land use policies, specifically to catalyze ambitious local implementation of SB 375, California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act.
WalkSanDiego is receiving $25,000 to advance sustainable communities and climate solutions. Specifically, WalkSanDiego will engage interested residents, organizations, and the region’s local governments to adopt healthier community design practices necessary for successful implementation of SB 375, by establishing best practices in roadway and community design, and empowering residents to reform roadway and land development design.